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He worked with Hailey the night shift as a patrolman when an emergency call came in. Neighbors reported gunshots.
"Chicago PD!" Jay shouted, kicking in the door of a family home. A man laid in the hall, dead. A woman laid dead in the kitchen. They were shot.
"Did you hear that?" Hailey asked. A rustling and rumbling upstairs caught the attention of the detectives. Carefully they crept up the stairs. Jay saw a door with a colorful inscription 'Charlotte'. Hailey slowly opened the door and Jay stepped in first. It was a toddler room.
"We are detectives with the Chicago Police Department. You're safe," Hailey said, but nothing moved.
Slowly Jay bent down and looked under the bed. He saw a fearfully trembling girl. She was maybe two years old. But most of all, Jay saw the toddler's face - the bright brown eyes. After Hailey made him aware of the CPD teddy bear with the Intelligence cap, he knew immediately who the little girl was. "Charlie?" he asked gently. The girl seemed to respond to the name, but she stayed under the safe bed.
"I'm Jay. Do you still remember me?" he asked, although he knew that Charlie did not recognize him, "You can trust me, huh?"
Hailey laid down on the floor next to Jay, holding the teddy bear in front of them.
"What was his name? Officer Bear?" she grinned, and the child's eyes lit up even more. Initially hesitant she crawled toward the detectives. Jay took the girl in his arms while Charlie reached for her teddy bear.
"You're safe now," he whispered in her ear.
They took the little girl to the 21st District. Charlie laid exhausted on the couch in the break room. The toddler was feverish. Her forehead was burning hot, like touching a hot plate.
"102.9 - the temperature is rising." Hailey looked worriedly at the clinical thermometer before turning her thoughtful gaze to Jay. Gently, Jay stroked the whimpering toddler's sweaty hair. It was a mystery to Jay where his big brother was. Several messages he left on Will's mailbox.
"We have to lower the fever," Antonio muttered.
"Poor kid," Adam said. Charlie rolled back and forth on the couch, she was very pale and sweaty. Softly she whimpered to herself. Full of concern, the intelligence member looked at the toddler, who reflexively gripped her stomach and apparently had visible pain.
"I go to a pharmacy and get suppositories. You keep trying to reach Will and don't forget to measure fever. If it rises, then she has to go to Med," Antonio said, "I hurry."
"You can do it, huh? I can't see a child suffering so much." Adam said and left the break room. Kevin also joined his partner. Hailey, Kim, Hank and Jay stayed behind, looking anxiously at the girl who was starting to cry to their chagrin. Restless, she threw herself from side to side or kicked off her blanket.
"Hey Charlie," Hailey whispered as she gently stroked her hair away, "Everything's going to be fine."
"Cold," Charlie sobbed and immediately Jay reached for the toddler, pulled the glowing girl on his lap and gently rocked her back and forth.
"Wow. Jay. You're a real gentleman when it comes to a young lady," Kim giggled. Hank cleared his throat, gave Jay a warning gaze and left the break room. After all, he still had a case, which they had to complete. And he does not help the child by standing beside it. Hailey brought Officer Bear to Charlie. Immediately she grabbed her stuffed animal and clung tightly to it while she was rocked back and forth in the strong arms of the detective.
"You're doing good, Jay." Hailey praised, "Do you have experience with children?"
Jay denied. Where should he have the experience from? Now and then children were involved in their cases, but he has never looked after a child so intensely.
A few years ago, his great desire was to start a family with Erin Lindsay. First celebrate engagement, then the wedding and when the right time came, the first child. Now his biggest wish is gone.
Again, Charlie struggled restlessly in his arms, "Shh, baby girl. Toni will get you a magic potion and then you'll feel better," Jay whispered.
"Much better," Kim added. Out of concern the fever may have risen, she measures the temperature again. Luckily it stayed the same. Nervously they listened to the laborious breaths of the sleeping toddler.
"Jay, she just sleeps." Hailey explained as she saw Jay groping for the child's pulse.
"Better safe than sorry. We should go to Med with her," he mused.
"Just because a child has fever, you don't immediately run into the ER. You'll see she's getting better as soon as she gets the medicine." Hailey said.
"Kim, please call Antonio and ask why it takes so long." Jay ordered while Kim silently nodded.
"Jay. You're not to blame. The youth welfare office brought Charlie to these people." Hailey said. She was sure that this kind of caring could only come from guilt. The more they found out about the murder, the more they came to the conclusion that Charlie's foster parents were involved in criminal activities and had ripped off money from other people.
"Mama," they heard the soft child's voice say.
"You're missing her, huh?" Hailey asked sensitively, "We promise you, Charlie, we'll find a new family for you."
At the same moment Antonio came back and gave the child the medicine.
